The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-30

to hear, and they yelled They didn't stop to
ask what the quantity was. The fact that gas
had been found at all in indianapolis was glory
enough for one day, and the forests around the
little town of Brightwood reverberated with the
cheers that continued for half an hour.
1t was evident that the flow of gas was being
obstructed by the flow of water in the WE'LL An
investigation was made, and more than two hun
dred feet OF salt water was found to have poured
into the well in few minutes after the explo-
sion. When the ear was put to the
pipe. the gurelne OF the gas through
the water could be heard and it
was plain that more OF the fuel was below
than could reach the surface. After the tools
used in shooting were removed, Mr.. CALENDER
touched match to the top Of the tube The
blaze shot up ten feet high and the people again
yelled. The water continued to poor into the
we'll, and in half an hour the flow of gas had
been greatly obstructed, and the blaze dimin-
ished foot in height
1t was SO little expected that gas would be
found that no arrangements had been made for
burning it. The frame derrick over the well
was in danger OF being destroyed by the fame,
and after the gas had been allowed to burn q
half hour it was pdt out by placing an iron plate
over the top of the tube
Before the flame was extinguisbed. the people
from the city, having heard OF the strike. were
beginning to arrive, but they nearly all went
back to return again at night, when the con-
tractors gave notice that they wosld have ar
rangements for burning the fuel without danger
to the derrick. The crowd gradually dispersed,
and by o'clock only a few late corners from the
city were about. The contractors sent to the
city and procured 3ss-inch pipe, which they at
tached to the tube in the ground. and by that
means were enabled to lead the gas ten feet out
side the derrick.
1t was hardly dark when people began TO ar
rive from the city and the surrounding country.
anxious to stand for once in the full glare of
natural-gas light in Indianapolis. The 7:30
o'clock train. on which Journal reporter
went out, WAS crowded to the steps.
Among the passengers were many business
men with their wives, who talked nothing on the
way out but natural gas. There were such ex-
pressions as these: 1T is settled now that we
won't have to go to Noblesvic for gas"
''Whether the supply amounts to anything or
not it indicates that Indianapolis is in the midst
of the natural gas belt, and we will have plenty
of it" Property will 60 I'D 10 per cent to NOR
row, and l am glad haven't sold"
1t was nearly o'clock before preparations
were completed for relighting the gas. thou
sand persons gathered around. Perhaps one
third of them were from the city. The others
were from Brightwood and the surrounding
country. The farmers for miles around had
heard the news. and had eaten an early supper,
and with their wives and children had driven to
town to see the wonder. Natural gas
on their already valuable farms. and
they chock full of enthusiasm. Every
body from Brightwood was at the well. Hard
listed workinemen, with wives and squalling
babies, jostled the capitalists in the crowd. and
everybody was happy When the torch was re-
touched to the gas it did not blaze as high as in
the afternoon The flame ran up six feet. The
decrease in the pressure, the drllers said, was
solely due to the great amount OF water In the
we'll. An attempt was made to pump out some
of the water but the pump would not work
we'll, and it decided to labor no
more the we'll until this morning There
was some disappointment at not finding bigger
blaze. but the majority thought to find gas at
a W
seven or eight hundred persons still eazed at the
yellowish blaze, and, judging from their move
ments, they had concluded to camp with the
well over night, so great was their admiration.
The flow of gas from the well perhaps does
not amount to much in itself. but it seems to
courage the hunt for the fuel in this vicinity.
The drillers said last night that they were conf
dent that there was at least 200 pound pressure
on the flow but they are doubtless overestimat-
ing It. The pressure last night was not more
than a few pounds butthey claim that the press
ure through 200 feet of water and an I'M
plugged pipe is no indication OF what the
is completely smothered out" said
Mr. Holland, one Of the contractors: Immedi-
ately after the shooting of the we'll there was a
magnificent flow. but It continued bu. few
minutes, 1t was shut off by the water rushing
in from the crevices opened bv the explosion
/ have no doubt that If we would not pump out
the we'll the flow would be entirely shut off In
perhaps twentyfo hours.
The contractors are experienced gas men, and
they say the find is positive indication that In
dianapolis is in the natural-gas belt. They be-
lieve that there is a great supply near Bright
wood. They give it as their opinion that the
well sunk in gulch, beside reservoir of
the fuel, and think that by moving, perhaps. a
quarter of mile in each direction, the reservoir
will be sure to be found. 1.-THE finding of
the gas by the explosion" said Mr..
Applegate, SIS sure indication that we are to
the side of q reservoir. think that the cxplo-
a IN n a
which the gas is coming from the supply. If it
is a considerable distance it would be impossible
to get it in abundance by shooting the we'll. A
second shooting might have the effect of opening
the assure wider and letting IN greater supply.
but the only successful way to get 3 supply will
be TO bore more wells in the vicinity
D. H. Wiles, the president of the company,
was at the well last night and said that the d.
rectors we're highly pleased with the result.
They expected nothing from that WE'LL but the
encouraged them to go ahead hunting for it
Drilling will be commenced at once in new local
tiles. The first new we'll will probably be sunk
quarter of mile north Of the present one on
ground Of higher elevation. 1t is also probable
that line of wells will be sunk north for FIVE or
six miles toward Noblesville and they fee, as
sured that somewhere in that vicinity plenty OF
gas will be found
THE we'll is precisely like the first one drilled
at Nobesviile," said Michael Holland. of Mobiles
vil!e who also has stock in the Capital City
Company "Ata depth of 1900 feet there NO
gas had been struck, and the well was shot. The
supply found was about like that here The
company abandoned it and drilled a mile
away, and struck the great 'Gusher.' It is prob
able that the same thing may occur here"
The directors of the company who were about
the well last night were Of the opinion that they
would shoot the we'll again to-day. but did no.
be pumped dry and plugged in order that a fair
test of the pressure NAV be had.